Mid-South Coliseum: Through the Years

The 11,000-seat Mid-South Coliseum has been closed for six years, hampered both by the noncompete clause enjoyed by FedExForum and code issues, including lack of handicap accessibility. On January 13, 2001 the coliseum was transformed into a giant television production studio for the upcoming videotaping of a David Copperfield television special which later aired on CBS. Copperfield, the world's most renowned illusionist was rehearsing for the TV special with a limited audience. Videotaping of the actual show took place later with a full house in attendance. (Mike Maple/The Commercial Appeal)

May 26, 1964 - The Mid-South Coliseum and Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium (originally Memphis Memorial Stadium) rise out of the ground at the Mid-South Fairgrounds in this aerial photograph. The Coliseum was built for the city and county for $4.7 million to house a wide variety of events, including basketball games, conventions, concerts and more. (Tom Barber/The Commercial Appeal files)

November 17, 1965 - Bill Wyman, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Brian Jones ( who died in 1969 ) at the Mid-South Coliseum. "The biggest applause of the night came when the warmup group, The Ramrods from Boston, opened up with 'Dixie,'" reporter James Kingsley wrote. Nevertheless, "Not since Herman and The Hermits, another English group, appeared in the Coliseum earlier this year has a rock and roll show drawn such a responsive audience." Attendance: About 6,000, compared with "fewer than 2,000" in Nashville. (Fred Griffith / The Commercial Appeal)

August 19, 1966 - The Beatles performed at 4 and 8:30 p.m. at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis. The Commercial Appeal reported that 20,128 people "heard the Liverpudlians bow to Dixie." A chain link fence surrounded the stage. Across town, a crowd of more than 8,000 filled the Auditorium North Hall and part of the South Hall for the Memphis Christian Youth Rally. This was provoked by Lennon's statement that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus Christ. ( By Robert Williams / The Commercial Appeal)

August 19, 1966 - The Beatles performed at 4 and 8:30 p.m. at the Mid-South Coliseum. The Commercial Appeal reported that 20,128 people "heard the Liverpudlians bow to Dixie." A total of 7,589 attended the afternoon show and 12,539 showed up at the evening concert. The Cyrkle, Bobby Hebb, The Ronettes and The Remains also were on the bill. Tickets cost $5.50. According to The Commercial Appeal, the Beatles - John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr - wore "modish-dull gray suits" for the afternoon show and "dark green creations with chartreuse shirts" for the evening concert. ( By Fred Griffith / The Commercial Appeal)

August 19, 1966 - The Beatles - Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and John Lennon - in Memphis in 1966. The late Fred Griffith, former staff photographer for The Commercial Appeal, shot photos of the Beatles for the newspaper. In 1991, he said he and other members of the accredited press were allowed to take photos during the group's press conference at the Coliseum. Griffith, now recalled seeing the Beatles in the rear of the Coliseum before the press conference. "They were in the bus and leaning out the windows and yelling and hollering, and the girls were screaming." (By Fred Griffith / The Commercial Appeal)

August 24, 1968 - James Brown performs before an audience of 11,733 at the Mid-South Coliseum. The Augusta, GA singer has sung his way to the top of the musical heap as Soul Brother No. 1. (The Commercial Appeal files)

November 2, 1968 - Headliner Conway Twitty, Little Jimmy Dickens and Sammi Smith, vocalist with Waylon Jennings' band have a little fun backstage at the Mid-Coliseum before their performances. Other acts performing for some 4,500 country-western fans included Memphians Bud and Joyce Murry, Dusty Rhodes and Jeannie Seely. (Fred Griffith/The Commercial Appeal)

March 4, 1970 - A rivalry begun in high school continued when the Freshmen teams from Memphis State and Ole Miss played at the Mid-South Coliseum. Larry Finch led the Tigers with 32 points and Johnny Neumann led the Rebels with 44. Neumann's Rebels came out on the long end of the score, winning 103 to 95. Finch played at Melrose while Neumann played at Overton. (Jim Shearin / The Commercial Appeal)

November 1, 1970 - Lawrence Welk signs autographs for some of the 12,000 people who attended his 2 1/2 hour concert at the Mid-South Coliseum. (Richard Gardner / The Commercial Appeal)

May 29, 1971 - Frank Sinatra was the headline performer at the St. Jude Shower of Stars at the Mid-South Coliseum. Also performing for the benefit of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital were Danny Thomas, Bob Hope, Sammy Davis Jr., Vikki Carr and Tennessee Ernie Ford. The benefit raised an estimated $175,000 for the hospital founded by Danny Thomas. (Dave Darnell / The Commercial Appeal)

May 29, 1971 - Tennessee Ernie Ford (left), Danny Thomas (center) and Sammy Davis, Jr. (right) chatted back stage prior to the St. Jude Shower of Stars at the Mid-South Coliseum. Also performing at the benefit for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital were Bob Hope, Vikki Carr and Frank Sinatra. The benefit raised an estimated $175,000 for the hospital. (Barney Sellers / The Commercial Appeal.)

January 22, 1972 - Memphis State University head basketball coach Gene Bartow was a picture of concentration as he watched the Tigers manhandle North Texas State 91 to 60 in the Missouri Valley Conference television game-of-the-week. The win pushed the Tigers' record to 10-4 overall and 3-1 in the Missouri Valley. Larry Finch led all scorers with 32 points while Ronnie Robinson added 24 points and 18 rebounds as 7,152 spectators looked on at Mid-South Coliseum. (Dave Darnell/The Commercial Appeal)

July 1, 1972 - Rufus Thomas at the WDIA Starlite Revue at the Mid-South Coliseum Saturday evening. Thomas took the stage in a shocking pink "hot pants" outfit with cape and roused the audience of 12,000 with his performance. "We do this show each year so that black crippled children will have educational opportunity," he said. "WDIA is the voice of the black community here and the station has sure been good to me." Headliners for the show were Isaac Hayes and B.B. King. (Robb Mitchell / The Commercial Appeal)

June 20, 1973 - Several dozen skating enthusiasts were attracted to the Mid-South Coliseum Wednesday evening for public ice skating. They whirled around the temporary rink, sometimes taking a spill. The coliseum schedule calls for skating sessions into next week. (Fred J. Griffith /The Commercial Appeal)

June 20, 1973 - Several dozen skating enthusiasts were attracted to the Mid-South Coliseum Wednesday evening for public ice skating. They whirled around the temporary rink, sometimes taking a spill. Off their skates here are Jenny McDowell (left), 13, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph McDowell of 3900 Walnut Grove and Theresa Rodgers, 14, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E.M. Radcliffe of 475 North Highland. The coliseum schedule calls for skating sessions into next week. (Fred J. Griffith /The Commercial Appeal)

August 17, 1973 - Michael Jackson (left) leads the Jackson Five through their performance at Mid-South Coliseum before an unexpectedly small crowd of about 5,000. One reason for the small crowd could be that this was their fourth Memphis concert in three years. (Stephen Gates/The Commercial Appeal)

January 31, 1974 - W.M. Brown, coliseum employee, looks over ticket orders for a week's worth of Elvis tickets that can't be filled for three concerts on March 16 and 17. (Robb Mitchell / The Commercial Appeal)

March 17, 1974 - Carol Wigginton, 26, 0f Amory, Miss. waited for hours Saturday, at a Mid-South Coliseum fence in Memphis for a glimpse of Elvis Presley. He whisked past in his car and could not be seen. Her disappointment is evident. Presley was in his hometown for a series of shows, his first local appearances in 13 years. (By Richard Gardner / The Commercial Appeal)

March 20, 1974 - Elvis Presley during a concert at Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis. Elvis ended a 15 city tour with three performances in his hometown on the 16, 17th and Wednesday night, the 20th, before a crowd of 12,300. ( By Jim Shearin / The Commercial Appeal )

March 20, 1974 - Elvis Presley during a concert at Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis. Elvis ended a 15 city tour with three performances in his hometown on the 16, 17th and Wednesday night, the 20th, before a crowd of 12,300. ( By Jim Shearin / The Commercial Appeal )

March 20, 1974 - Elvis Presley gestures, gyrates, grabs guitars and generally gratifies the audience as he ended his 15-city tour with a hometown performance recorded before 12,300 fans at Mid South Coliseum Wednesday night. ( By Jim Shearin / The Commercial Appeal )

May 25, 1974 - Television pitch man and Tonight Show straightman Ed McMahon entertains at the St. Jude Shower of Stars at the Mid-South Coliseum. (Dave Darnell/The Commercial Appeal)

May 26, 1974 - Edgar Winter and his band went on stage with an unmistakable goal - pounding out thunderous electronic rock and roll - and the music made an instant impact on the audience of nearly 12, 000 fans at the Mid-South Coliseum. (Stephen Gates/The Commercial Appeal)

July 26, 1974 - Clowns, elephants, horses and llamas are just part of the excitement as Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus opens at the Mid-South Coliseum. ( Barney Sellers / The Commercial Appeal)

November 27, 1974 - George Harrison in concert at Mid-South Coliseum, some 8 years after The Beatles performed there. Also on the bill were Ravi Shankar and Billiy Preston. Harrison died in Los Angeles November 29, 2001, after a long battle with cancer. (By Dave Darnell / The Commercial Appeal)

December 14, 1975 - With advance man, Earl Simms leading the way, Cher arrives with husband, Gregg Allman, backstage at the Mid-South Coliseum prior to The Allman Brothers Band set before a reported 10, 871 fans. Wet Willie was the opening act. (Barney Sellers/The Commercial Appeal)

May 20, 1976 - Fans line up for tickets to an Elvis Presley concert at Mid-South Coliseum. (By Robb Mitchell / The Commercial Appeal )

July 5, 1976 - Elvis Presley performs what would be his last Memphis concert before a crowd of 12,000 at Mid-South Coliseum. Exactly twenty-two years earlier, Elvis recorded "That's All Right" at Sam Phillips' little studio at 706 Union. Introducing the song, he said: "I've had some people say - well, you can't do that song anymore - well, you, by God, just watch me." (By Barney Sellers / The Commercial Appeal)

July 5, 1976 - Elvis Presley performs what would be his last Memphis concert before a crowd of 12,000 at Mid-South Coliseum. (By Barney Sellers / The Commercial Appeal)

July 5, 1976 - A scene of the crowd at what would be Elvis Presley's last Memphis concert at Mid-South Coliseum. (By Barney Sellers / The Commercial Appeal)

July 5, 1976 - Elvis Presley performs what would be his last Memphis concert before a crowd of 12,000 at Mid-South Coliseum. (By Barney Sellers / The Commercial Appeal)

July 5, 1976 - Elvis Presley performs what would be his last Memphis concert before a crowd of 12,000 at Mid-South Coliseum. Exactly twenty-two years earlier, Elvis recorded "That's All Right" at Sam Phillips' little studio at 706 Union. Introducing the song, he said: "I've had some people say - well, you can't do that song anymore - well, you, by God, just watch me." (By Barney Sellers / The Commercial Appeal)

March 23, 1977 - The Jacksons from left: Tito, Michael, Randy, Jack and Marlon relax and catch up on fan mail in Memphis for a concert the following evening at Mid-South Coliseum. The day before, the singing brothers from Gary, Indiana, visited Woolco's at the Southgate Shopping Center. The store's assistant general manager estimated the crowd at between 6,000 and 7,000. The flock caused an estimated several thousand dollars of damage in the process, but no injuries or arrests were reported. The Jacksons have been in Memphis about 10 days, taking a break during their two month concert tour. (Richard Gardner/The Commercial Appeal)

August 27, 1977 - Tickets to the Elvis Presley show at the Mid-South Coliseum August 27, 1977 that was never held as Elvis died on August 16. ( By Robb Mitchell / The Commercial Appeal )

July 8, 1977 - Natalie Cole performs at the Kool Jazz Festival at the Mid-South Coliseum. Others scheduled to perform at the two-day event were Al Green, Gladys Knight and The Pips, The Temptations and The Mighty Clouds of Joy. (Thomas Busler / The Commercial Appeal)

June 2, 2000 - Dentistry graduates from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center get an early jump on postgraduation festivities during Friday's graduation ceremony at the Mid-South Coliseum. (Lance Murphey/The Commercial Appeal)

March 1, 1978 - "Eric Clapton not only put on the best concert he's ever done in Memphis, but also put on one of the best displays of rock and roll expertise the city has seen in some time", reported The Commercial Appeal's Walter Dawson. About 9,000 fans turned out for the concert. (Richard Gardner/The Commercial Appeal)

March 7, 1978 - It was a storybook night when the old and the not-so-old could rejoice in being young at heart. It was a time for watching the Cookie Monster clown; listening to Big Bird sing, and laughing when Grover and his gang fell down. It was "Holiday on Ice" - with lights that sparkled, costumes that glittered and pretty girls that lit faces as they passed. (Barney Sellers/The Commercial Appeal)

April 14, 1978 - Rocker David Bowie thrilled a crowd of about 7,000 at the Mid-South Coliseum (Dave Darnell / The Commercial Appeal)

February 8, 2001 - During an abreviated performance of The Little Mermaid's "Under The Sea" Kim Wook dons his fishy persona Thursday morning at the Mid South Coliseum where Disney on Ice will appear through Sunday. (Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

April 22, 1978 - It was billed as the Kool Country Shindig, but it should have been called the Ronnie Milsap Shindig because from the beginning to the end it was Ronnie Milsap's show at the Mid-South Coliseum. Before a crowd of about 6,000, Milsap, a former Memphian, showed why he is considered one of the hottest names in country music, and why he has received two Grammys and was named country music entertainer of the year in 1977. (Dave Darnell / The Commercial Appeal)

May 1, 2001 - Students of The University of Tennessee Health Science Center file into the Mid South Coliseum Friday afternoon for their Graduation. (Alan Spearman/The Commercial Appeal)

February 20, 2002 - David Smith, or Cannonball Smith as is written on the side of his 34 foot long cannon prepares for his performance Wednesday morning where he is thrusted out of his cannon for 141 feet. The 59 year old former university math professor who lives in Halfway, Missouri holds the Guinness Book of World Record title for distance being shot out of a cannon. Smith's act was the finale in Wednesday morning's opening of the 60th Annual Al Chymia Shrine Circus at the Mid-South Coliseum. (Mike Maple/The Commercial Appeal)

November 23, 1978 - Billy Joel performs at the coliseum. Bob Seeger performed the next night. (Thomas Busler/The Commercial Appeal)

July 24, 2002 - Rapper J Boog of the music group B2K is mobbed by hundreds of screaming fans outside the gates of the Midsouth Coliseum on Wednesday during an appearance by rapper and movie star Bow Wow and opening act B2K. Bow Wow's Scream 2 tour kicks off in Memphis on July 25. Bow Wow, star of the recent movie Like Mike, announced a partnership with the Center for Disease Control's VERB campaign on Wednesday, which promotes positive activity to combat obesity. (Lance Murphey/The Commercial Appeal)

December 27, 1978 - Willie Nelson drew 9,866 fans to the Mid-South Coliseum. The concert, sponsored by Mid-South Concerts, was the second stop on a five-city tour by Nelson, the 45-year-old native of Abbott, TX. (Thomas Busler / The Commercial Appeal)

February 27, 2003 - The 61st Annual Shrine Circus continues though Sunday at the Mid-South Coliseum. Seen here Johnny Peers with his "Muttville Comics" perform Thursday morning. Peers, a 2nd generation circus performer, has been in the business for 32 years. "I was a clown at Ringling and I picked up a dog from the pound." says Peers who now has 16 dogs. "I'm the straight man and they are the clowns, it's organized confusion." His act has taken him to Monte Carlo and other exotic locales. He has been on Regis and Letterman. (Mike Maple/The Commercial Appeal)

March 30, 2003 - The National Association for College Admission Counseling held a National College Fair at the Mid-South Coliseum Sunday. (Alan Spearman/The Commercial Appeal)

August 12, 1979 - Kiss hit the Mid-South coliseum and Memphians came out in full force to embrace the rock band. Every one of the 11,999 seats was taken and even those fans seated behind the stage paid $10 each to watch the backs of the four band members. Guitarist Gene Simmons gave the crowd what they came for. (Dave Darnell / The Commercial Appeal)

August 12, 1979 - Kiss hit the Mid-South coliseum and Memphians came out in full force to embrace the rock band. Every one of the 11,999 seats was taken. (Dave Darnell / The Commercial Appeal)

May 17, 2003 - East High School student Cherelle Walls gives thanks to her mother Carol Walls after completing commencement exercises at the Mid-South Coliseum. Walls, who graduated at the top of her class, is planning to go to college at M.I.T., with a host of scholarships and awards earned from her academic career. (Lance Murphey/The Commercial Appeal)

March 22, 1980 - Barbara Mandrell gave a captivating performance before a near capacity crowd of 11,800 at the Mid-South Coliseum. Mandrell talked and soothed the crowd with stories of her childhood as though she was sitting on her front porch speaking to friends. She stooped at the end of the stage and touched hands with fans from the audience and, at one point, borrowed one of the many cowboy hats from among them when she sang "Cowboys Ain't Easy to Love." (Dave Darnell/The Commercial Appeal)

August 22, 2003 - Andrew Newman of CBHS, middle-left, and Terry Glen of East High School, middle-right, get caught in the middle of a maelstrom of teamwork Friday morning as area football teams gathered for the annual "Kick Off Classic" teams breakfast at the Mid-South Coliseum. (Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

July 10, 1980 - The Who's Roger Daltry takes his turn in the spotlight before a sellout crowd. As The Commercial Appeal's Walter Dawson noted in the next day's edition: If ever there was a classic English rock and roll band, The Who would have to be it and just as they did a few years ago, they reminded Memphis of that last night before a sellout crowd of 12,000 at the Mid-South Coliseum. (Barney Sellers/The Commercial Appeal)

July 10, 1980 - The Who's Pete Townshend rocks at center stage. As The Commercial Appeal's Walter Dawson noted in the next day's edition: If ever there was a classic English rock and roll band, The Who would have to be it and just as they did a few years ago, they reminded Memphis of that last night before a sellout crowd of 12,000 at the Mid-South Coliseum. (Barney Sellers/The Commercial Appeal)

June 2, 1981 - Styx delivered a two-hour, energy-packed performance to a youthful sellout crowd at Mid-South Coliseum. The crowd stood on chairs and screamed when the group performed "Lady" midway through the first hour of the show. (Thomas Busler/The Commercial Appeal)

July 7, 1981 - A crowd estimated at 1,500 to 2,000 makes the going slow for two limousines carrying members of The Jacksons away from Memphis International Airport. The popular singing group arrived aboard a commercial airline at about 6:30 p.m. for their performance the next evening at Mid-South Coliseum. Security guards provided a corridor through the crowd to allow the brothers to make the 200-yard dash from the airport concourse to the waiting cars. Once there, the fans strained against the cars trying to get a look at their idols and it took about 30 minutes for the entourage to clear the crowd. The concert came off before a sellout crowd. (Jim Shearin/The Commercial Appeal)

April 5, 1982 - Comic performance artist Andy Kaufman taunts wrestler Jerry Lawler during their bout at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis. The bout ended when Lawler slammed Kaurman into the mat head first. Lawler played himself in Man in the Moon, a movie featuring Jim Carrey as Kaufman, which was released in late 1999. Kaufman died in 1984 at the age of 35. (Thomas Busler / The Commercial Appeal)

April 5, 1982 - Comic performance artist Andy Kaufman is wheeled out on a gurney after being "injured" during a bout with Jerry Lawler at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis. (By Thomas Busler / The Commercial Appeal)

January 17, 2004 - Vendors set up shop in the Mid-South Coliseum Saturday after destruction of the Shelby County Building by fire last month sent organizers for the "Big One" looking for a new home. (Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

October 24, 1982 - It is Ladies Night Out on as Tom Jones turns on the charm for the ladies at his performance at the Mid-South Coliseum. (Thomas Busler / The Commercial Appeal)

July 12, 2004 - Elvis Presley perfomed his last concert in Memphis on July 5, 1976 before a crowd of 12,000 at the Mid-South Coliseum. Elvis wore his red-white-and-blue bicentennial jumpsuit. He also sang "America the Beautiful." (Alan Spearman/The Commercial Appeal)

October 26, 1982 - Crosby, Stills and Nash perform before approximately 7,000 people at the Mid-South Coliseum. (Thomas Busler / The Commercial Appeal)

February 16, 1984 - Sting, bass player and singer for the Police, had the crowd wrapped around his finger as the world's number one rock and roll band performed before a sell-out crowd at the Mid-South Coliseum. (Thomas Busler / The Commercial Appeal)

February 5, 2005 - Catholic Diocese of Memphis Bishop J. Terry Steib accepts offerings during Friday's Sixth Annual All Schools Mass at the Mid-South Coliseum. The Theme of the event put on by the Diocese of Memphis Catholic schools was Unity in Diversity. (Matthew Craig/The Commercial Appeal)

Bruce Springsteen performs at the Mid-South Coliseum, December 13, 1984, on the first night of back to back sold out shows. The concert opened as Springsteen bounded onto stage with a manic rendition of "Born in the U.S.A." and the crowd went crazy. At one point during the concert, Springsteen stopped and talked about the Memphis Food Bank, urging people to make donations to the charity. (Jim Shearin/The Commercial Appeal)

May 19, 2005 - Cordova High School senior Colby King, 18, gives a lift to classmate Ashley Kuhn, 17, during a graduation rehearsal at the Mid-South Coliseum on Thursday. Principal Larry McGhee said approximately 440 students will graduate at the coliseum on Saturday, May 21 at 3 p.m. (Lance Murphey/The Commercial Appeal)

July 30, 1983 - It's a heck of a way to run a railroad, but workmen have little choice while moving the 1912 Frisco locomotive past the Mid-South Coliseum. Track panels were leap-frogged around the 150-ton engine, displayed at the fairgrounds for 31 years. The engine was towed toward Southern Railway yards and eventually will be moved to a shop for restoration before a trip to next year's World's Fair in New Orleans. (Richard Gardner / The Commercial Appeal)

May 21, 2005 - Long time Mid-South Coliseum employees Frank Lilly, left, and Donald Barner, right, take a break after preparing the arena for its second of five high school graduations this weekend. (Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

January 25, 1985 - Prince performs at the first of three sold-out shows at Mid-South Coliseum. (By Jeff McAdory / The Commercial Appeal)

May 21, 2005 - Overton High School's Ashley Oliver, right, celebrates her graduation with family and friend outside the Mid-South Coliseum Saturday afternoon. Mid-South Coliseum work crews will stay busy as they prepare for five high school graduations this weekend. (Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

February 13, 1988 - Cheyenne Gibson (left) blows a kiss while teammate Rodney Douglas applauds as their teammates move into the final moments of a metro conference game at the Mid-South Coliseum before an announced crowd of 10,900. Memphis State defeated South Carolina 67-61. (By Jeff McAdory / The Commercial Appeal)

January 15, 1999 - A Memphis RiverKings player takes the ice during a pregame light show at the Mid-South Coliseum. Despite a modern lightshow, the RiverKings cite the aging coliseum as one of their primary reasons for moving to a new rink in DeSoto county. (Lance Murphey/The Commercial Appeal)

February 4, 1989 - Elliot Perry during a Tigers game against Louisville. (Dave Darnell/The Commercial Appeal)

November 19, 2005 - Recording artists Keisha Cole performed her hit single "I Shoulda Cheated" at the Touch The Sky tour at the Mid-South Coliseum. (Justin Shaw/The Commercial Appeal)

December 20, 1989 - Coach Larry Finch offers the officials his take on a possession call as John McLaughlin watches from the floor during a Tigers game. (Dave Darnell/The Commercial Appeal)

December 15, 2005 - Vance Middle School 7th Graders (l-r) Erik Crump, 13, Brittany Ryan, 14, and Dion Thomas, 13, react to a rap performed by inmates from the Millington Federal Prison Camp during the G.R.E.A.T. graduation held at the Mid-South Coliseum. The kids completed a gang resistance awareness program, much like D.A.R.E. , and were treated to a play performed by inmates and free pizza for lunch. (Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal)

July 10, 1990 - Janet Jackson, who alternated between dance-oriented, fast-paced hits and more introspective, all-out singing specials, performs before 11,000 people at the Mid-South Coliseum. (Dave Darnell / The Commercial Appeal)

February 10, 2006 - Brentwood's Joshua Bone, bottom, is fouled by Mitchell's Michael Cager, top, during fourth quarter action of the Nike Hardwood Classic at the Mid-South Coliseum. Bone had a team high 22 points to help led his team to 78-67 victory. (Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

January 21, 1991 - George Dhuy, who has sold programs at the coliseum since the building first opened, hawks his programs prior to the Memphis State-Miami game. (Dave Darnell/The Commercial Appeal)

March 25, 1994 - The floor of the Mid-South Coliseum was given over to general admission standing room and fans of Pearl Jam made the most of it. 8,500 (600 tickets were released just before showtime, part of the band's strategy to fight scalpers) were content to pogo up and down, mostly in time to Pearl Jam and opening act, King's X. (Robert Cohen/The Commercial Appeal)

March 3, 2006 - Lulu ,28, (left) and Zola,41, share several tons of love with each other while waiting to perform at the Shrine Circus at the Mid South Coliseum on Thursday. The two have been together for 20 years. "They have built a bond like sisters" their keeper Tim Friscia said. The two weigh several tons each. (Karen Pulfer Focht/The Commercial Appeal)

August 11, 1976 - An aerial scene of Libertyland and the Mid-South Coliseum. Despite a grassroots effort to save it, Libertyland closed in 2005 after several seasons of falling attendance and financial losses. (Dave Darnell/The Commercial Appeal)

April 12, 2011 - A cracked M helps spell out Mid-South Coliseum on the west side the vacant arena. (Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal)

November 20, 1963 - High-banked steps, on which the seats of the $4.5 million city-county Mid-South Coliseum would be placed, were taking shape at The Fairgrounds. Work on the building was ahead of schedule at the time, according to then City Commissioner James W. Moore. (The Commercial Appeal)

April 12, 2011 - Last month, the Wharton administration asked for $25 million to improve the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium while also razing the 11,000-seat Coliseum. That decision spurred many who have favorable memories of the building to discuss ways it could be saved and, perhaps, reused. (Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal)